by Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

by Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

More than 35 years since The Mary Tyler Moore Show finished its award-winning run, five members of the classic sitcom's cast, including the show's namesake, are in the middle of shooting an episode of TV Land's Hot in Cleveland that will run in September.

They've been having a grand old time, if a Thursday afternoon press conference was any reflection, as stars Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper, Betty White, Cloris Leachman and Georgia Engel reminisced about their shared past and their current endeavor.

"I would say (there's) laughter and the tears come up but then they're part of the laughter. Did you ever laugh till you cried? That's been happening a lot," Harper said. "And the remembrances and the stories. And it's been wonderful. It's been so full of life and joy and love. And fun!"

Laughter and happy tears were plentiful during the 30-minute session, as when Moore remembered scenes with Harper from decades ago shot on the same studio lot.

"Almost any scene we ever did, we could look into each other's eyes and be comforting or uplifting for each other. Just thinking back to some of those moments, those visuals, looking in your eyes. Now, you're starting to cry," Moore said, looking at Harper.

Leachman indicated that Harper's recently announced diagnosis, incurable brain cancer, was a factor that drew them together on Cleveland, which stars White and features Engel in a recurring role. (Cleveland's other regulars include Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick.)

Harper said she appreciated the public's support.

"It's been wonderful and sweet and I've got to get back to everyone, but I've been busy. I've been so busy," she said. "Then, working on the show has been great. And I don't have a lot of bad symptoms. And they may be down the road, but I'm not thinking of down the road. I'm thinking just of today. And I'm thinking of this moment and getting my lines right so I support my fellow players and serve the audience who are going to see this really funny show."

White marveled at Harper's demeanor. "Well, Miss Positive here, with her wonderful upbeat stuff, I won't buy any of those silly things that they tell her" about her diagnosis.

In the episode, scheduled for Sept. 4, Elka (White) and Mamie Sue (Engel) try to get their championship bowling team -- the Gorgeous Ladies of Bowling (GLOB) -- back together after a falling out years earlier. Moore, Harper and Leachman play team members. The script, Engel said, is titled, Love Is All Around, the name of the Moore show's theme song.

As for her former show's enduring appeal, Moore said it benefited from coming along earlier in the sitcom format.

"A lot of subject that our writers took on were new. They hadn't been seen 105 times as, at this point, I think a lot of situation comedies, especially, are down at the bottom of the bucket and they're looking for some stuff that hasn't been already seen. So, we came in at a very good time, I think," she said. "And I hope that it will continue to improve. Every season, every generation has gone higher and higher and higher. And I have no reason that's not going to continue to happen."

Harper said the earlier show's topics and writing endure.

"They were really committed to it being real -- real human beings, stuff that was relatable, but, above all, funny," Harper says. "They wrote high-class comedy. They would not throw a character overboard for a cheap joke."